REVIEW: The Wonder Years – Glasgow QMU, 4th Feb 2017

With a stacked bill of brilliant pop punk in a venue that probably isn’t big enough for such a line up, it was a night that promised to be sweaty and loud. Glasgow’s Queen Margaret Union was tonight playing host to one of the best in the genre and some great bands looking to follow in their footsteps.

After a mix up of door times meaning a large queue had formed half an hour early, opening band Tiny Moving Parts take to the stage to a venue that was already very busy. Playing some new songs off recent album “Celebrate” plus some older ones, they show just how much passion they have when it comes to playing live. With intricate guitar parts and a never ending smile from singer Dylan Mattheisen, the band throw everything they have into their performance and are a joy to watch.

Up next were Trash Boat, a band I’d heard a lot about, but not yet had the chance to see perform. They played quite an aggressive set, not really pausing for long in between songs and enticing the first crowd surfers of the night. Having released their debut album “Nothing I Write You Can Change What You’ve Been Through” in the middle of 2016, it was clear that was plenty time for the lyrics to be learned and yelled back at the band for the most of their set. They will definitely be pushing these songs and progressing further forward this year.

It wasn’t until Canadian punk rockers PUP took to the stage that things were kicked up a gear. With hooks and harmonies a plenty and some great charisma to boot, they blast through a very enjoyable 40 minute set with crowd surfers and mosh pits aplenty. The whole room was wild the whole time the band were on stage and I wouldn’t be surprised to see PUP back over on our shores sooner than later.

The anticipation for The Wonder Years was high after the opening bands and they definitely didn’t disappoint. Opening with the title track to their latest album “No Closer to Heaven”, the acoustic track acted almost like a prelude for the 17 track pop punk perfection that was to come. New tracks “Cardinals”, “Cigarettes & Saints” and “Thanks for the Ride” sounded incredible and blend perfectly with their back catalogue and are sure to be staples in their set for the next few years.

Dan “Soupy” Campbell proved exactly why he is considered one of the best frontmen in the genre with his iconic voice and stage presence, he and the rest of the band gave it their all. Slowing it down briefly to play unexpected acoustic track “Madelyn” before ending their set with classic singles “Passing Through a Screen Door” and “Came Out Swinging”, the band are given an almighty cheer when finally leaving the stage. The Wonder Years are at the top of their game right now and I am excited to see where they go next..